my report on E500 fitz freezeout

Norwich Fan Rob

ok finally got a chance to sit down (after catching up on some sleep).
i was having an awful week, on my way home at 3am early thurs morning, the car blew up, needs a new engine, 2k worth of damage, and that after someone had just nicked my jacket, and ages getting through to the AA, ended up up all night, and str8 into work, finished at 3am, really shoulda gone home to bed, but decided to chance the freeroll in the fitz for the 500k.
Battled away in this for 3 hours, 3 seats available, ended up going out on the final table, short of a seat. Tried a satelite, lost a race for most of the chips 3 handed, was nackered and in bad form, but decided to buy into the big event anyway for euro 540. (my 2nd big buy in event after the SE at the weekend). Id just had my first losing month online in ages, and was struggling with my game, but went into this tourney with a carefree attitude.
First few levels, i played awful, passive, calling station type poker. Everytime i seemed to raise, someone re raised, and i passed, i went from 6.5k starting to 1.5k by the end of level 3. I was shattered, had a serious word with myself, im waiting for a chance, and then i will not waste another chip.
Chance came on my BB, with KT off, flop comes KK4 with 2 hearts, i got 2 flush drawers to match my 1500, and stood up, so now i had 4500 ish.
Then i raised a few pots, and got up to 7k, just b4 the break, i raised my button with KJ hearts, bb moves in and if i call i have either 10.2k or 4k at the break, i decided 4k was still playable, and 10.2k was above average, and as i had layed down a few before, and he was getting desperate, there was a decent chance he had Ax or something like 88, so i called, he has AT and i spiked a K.
So at dinner, still about 75 out of 97 runners left, and 18 getting paid, 11th - 18th was euro 550, 1st was 20k, 2nd 9.5, 3rd 4.5, 4th 2.7.
Lost half was chips after the break and so short again, then ran into a very short stacks AA, and with 50 players left, and average about 13k, i got moved to table 1 with 1400 in chips!
Got it in with 88 and stood up, havent really seen any hands better than this all night. I remained on a short stack for the next 2 hours, careful picking spots to move in, i didnt show anything down, and remained with a tight image on this table. (i also passed 88 when another guy showed 99 and AJ when another moved and had AK).
So down to 20 players, and i had about 18k in chips, still just about the shortest, its after 2am at this stage, and im on about my 5th coffee, but the buzz of the tourney is keeping me going.
Richie annonces that if no one objects, they will take 1k off the top and give 19th and 20th 500 quid also. 1 guy objects, see above post!
(in my opinion, we have all been battling away for over 5 hours at this point, and the play had really slowed down, this would speed things up, it was christmas after all, and 19k for first was still pretty decent)
Anyway, after this, i was convinced i was going to be 19th!!!!, and decided i would try and limp into the money. (which i dont usually do, with the top heavy structures). I was delighted to see 2 depart fairly quick, unlucky for Vivian to go out on the bubble.
There was a break then, and i had 16k, average i think was closer to 40k, i was 2nd shortest, and shortest on my table.
However, as 11th - 18th all paid the same, i used a different approach, i needed chips, no point limping up a pos or 2 with that stucture, so when about 4 people limped on a 4k blind, i made up the 2k on the sb without even looking. The bb who was second shortest on the table moved in, he had me covered by about 4k, To my surprise the others all folded, and i had 23 clubs.
I had 10k behind, there was a 30k pot to be won, the bb was almost forced in, i was very likely to have 2 lives, and they were suited, im not passing here. He had 88, flop comes 24J, turn another 4 and im drawing to a deuce on the river, for a change i get a suckout, now im thinking with all thats gone before this might be my night.
Some more careful play later, and im maintaining my stack, again without any real hands (at this stage all ive had in terms of starting cards was 88 once)
With about 14 players left, i had 31k in chips in mid pos, i look down at AA, guy to my left moves in for 29k, i call and he has KJ off, no miracle, and now im close to average.
Soon after have KT on my bb, see a K86 flop, and similar sized stack moves in, 2 hearts on board, its a big pot, i feel im good and call, he shows a 6 no heart, turn gives me 2 pair, but another heart, and the board makes a flush on the river. He survives, and soon he has a mountain of chips.
Maintained my stack til 9 players left, and another break, my 60k stack was actually in about 5th, with a couple of massive stacks, and some smaller ones. Now guaranteed 1k for 9th, and its getting very late, but im finding the energy from the adrenelin, no longer feeling tired.
We soon went 8 handed, then the table become a complete rockfest, no one seemed to be making many moves, raises were getting respect, any time a shorty moved, they won, we must have been 8 handed for over an hour.
I was getting a bit frustrated. It was suggested to take 1k off the top again, and pay the next 4 200 extra each, since wed been playing so long, again one objector (diff guy to last time). Next hand this objector made a big raise, chip leader put him in, he passed, about 2 hands later he raised again, got put in again, and was on his way in 8th !!!! (funny how objectors always seem to be next out)
We then agreed to take 800 off the top and 7th to 4th get 200 extra.
Again no real hands to report, just a few moves in position, and we are down to 6 when i get 88, i have 40k , raised to 20k (blinds 2.5/5). Chip leader flat calls and moves on a J73 2 hearts flop. Im commited here as far as i am concerned, he could have had a 7, a flush draw, or just be on a stop and go, i shoulda gone all in pre flop, since i was not passing to a re raise, but i was calling his, he had KJ, and i was in trouble, but an 8 on the turn soon changed this and i was in decent shape now. (my 2nd bit of luck of the night)
With 6 left my AK beats K7 suited all in pre flop, and we are down to 5, i try and few raises to speed things up a bit, but have to pass, and again in the next 45 mins or so, really didnt pick up any sort of hand.
We went down to 4, and one guy gets a huge double up with JJ vs 99 of the chip leader, the JJ guy is now massive chip leader.
Its 5.20am, i have 50k, the former chip leader (guy i split the flush with and who had the 99, also the guy who bluffed our now deal agreer who posted above) also has 50k, guy to my left in seat 7 has about 120k and new chip leader, tight player in seat 9 has over 300k. I propose a deal. We settle on 15k, 8350, 6k and 6k and im happy with that (given 2.7k for 4th and 4.5k for 3rd).
So my biggest live cash, and a great night, now back home to bed for a couple of days !!!!

Daithio

Nice result! What would 4th have given you without the deal? The 23 was a definite call, you're getting 7 1/2 to 1! 88 a bit jammy but you need that.

Marq

funny how objectors always seem to be next out

It could be something to do with how they are the ones that play to win, as opposed to limping into the money, which brings with it more volatility. I've lost track of the number of times I've gone out on or near the bubble because I've gotten involved with in a huge hand with another chip leader. But the times I win those hands I've usually gone on to win the tournament.

Don't give too much stick to the objectors, it's their prerogative, and the discussion should end there.

Norwich Fan Rob

the original structure was 20k, 9.5k, 4.4, 2.7k
we made it 15k, 8.3k, 6k, 6k (after tips and taking 800 off the top)

a-k-47

final structure is alot better, the original 2.7k for fourth looked abit scabby for a 500$ buy in

a-k-47

oh well done. hope that 6k paid off your online loses